Heil et



March 2l, 1961 HElL ETAL TOKEN TICKET DISPENSERS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledOct. l5, 195'? WMM/MMM Rub www March 21, F, HElL ET AL 2,975,970

TOKEN TICKET DISPENSERS Filed 0G11. l5, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 March 2l,1961 F. HEM. ET Ax. 2,975,970

TOKEN TICKET DISPENSERS Filed Oct. l5, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 March 21,1961 F. HEIL. ET AL 2,975,970

TOKEN TICKET DISPENSERS Filed Oct. l5, 1957 5 Sheets-Shea?I 4 March 21,1961 F. HEIL. ET Ax. 2,975,970

TOKEN TICKET DISPENSERS Filed oct. 15, 1957 5 sheets-sheet 5 UnitedStates APatent O 2,975,910 TOKEN TICKET nIsPENsERS Friedrich Heil andWilhelm Muller, Frankfurt am Main, Germany, assignors to Telefonbau undNormalzeit G.m.b.H., Frankfurt am Main, Germany, a firm of Germany FiledOct. 15, 1957, Ser. No. 690,372

20 Claims. (Cl. 23S-101) This invention relates to dispensers for poststamps and for similar tokens of predetermined monetary value as may beused for various purposes. Such dispensers may be used for dispensingtickets entitling the holder thereof to -a predetermined service otherthan a postal service. Hereinafter post stamps and like tokens inticket-'like form representing a predetermined monetary value will bereferred to by the generic term of token tickets.

lt is a general object of the invention to provide improved token ticketdispensers having a means enabling the purchasers of tickets to selectamong several species of post stamps, or other token tickets, and havinganother means enabling the purchasers to select the desired number ofthe selected species, or kind, of post stamps, or other token tickets.

It is another more specific object of the invention to provide a tokenticket dispenser of the aforementioned character which is easiertooperate and whose structure is less complex than comparable prior-arttoken ticketdispensers.

Another object of theinvention is to provide a token ticket dispenser ofthe aforementioned character havingr a plurality of simple lockingmeans, or lock-out means, for assuring the required sequences ofoperation of its constituent parts, kand for preventing improperoperation y of the dispenser.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of theaforementioned character having means for readily correcting errorswhich may be made by a purchaser of token tickets in adjusting thequantity selector of the apparatus.

Another object of the invention is to provide lan apparatus of theaforementioned character having improved counting means for the variousmonetary values of the various kinds, or species, of token ticketsdispensed by it.

.Still another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of theaforementioned character having improved cutting means for severing thetoken tickets dispensed by the apparatus from the reel of token ticketsstill remaining in the apparatus.

. Further objects, advantages and features of this invention will becomeapparent as the following description proceeds, and the features ofnovelty which characterize this invention will be pointed out withparticularly in the claims annexed to, and forming part of, thisspeciiication.

For a better understanding of the invention reference may be had to theaccompanying drawings illustrating the invention, wherein Fig. l is adiagrammatic isometric view or assembly `drawing of a mechanismembodying the invention wherein certain details which appear in otherfigures have been omitted;

Fig. 2 is a less diagrammatic isometric view of the quantity selectormechanism which is an integral part of the structure of Fig. 1, Fig. 2showing some of the parts which have been omitted in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a less diagrammatic isometric view of the 2,975,910 PatentedMar. 21, 1961 species selector mechanism which is an integral part ofthe structure of Fig. l;

Fig. 4 is an isometric view of an operating key and of a lockingmechanism which is operatively associated with it and which formintegral parts of the structure of Fig. l;

Fig. 5 is an isometric view of some parts of the dispensing mechanism ofa ticket reel and of a casing-for the dispensing mechanism and theticket reel, these parts being constituent elements of the structure ofFig. 1;

Figs. 6 and 7 are isometric views showing two different positions of acounting and control mechanism which forms an integral part of themechanism of Fig. l; and

Fig. 8 shows a sensing mechanism which may be used instead of thecontrol mechanism of Figs. 6 and 7.

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly Figs. 1 and 2thereof, numeral 101 has been applied to designate a shaft supportingthe two gears 104, and three cams 134, 112 and 234. Gear 104 and cam 134have been clearly shown in Fig. 2 but not in Fig. 1. Shaft 101 supportsalso an indicating or number disc 121 and an operating knob 123 for disc121. The right end of shaft 101 supports a selecting sector or dial 102which is loosely mounted on it. Selecting sector or dial 102 is providedwith ten cut-out portions, or apertures, for inserting the tip of onesforeiinger when it is desired to dial a predetermined number of unitsindicated on dial 102. Ratchet 103 is pivotally mounted on one of thetwo sides of dial 102, and acted upon by a spring 103:1, tending toestablish cooperative engagement between ratchet 103 and gear 104. Whendial 102 is being turned in clockwise direction (as seen in Figs. l and2), ratchet 103 engaging gear 104 causes shaft 101 to make a turn equalto that of dial 102. A frame 122 having a window through which thenumbers inscribed on number disc 121 may be read off is arranged infront of number disc 121, and the same number as selected by dial 102appears always behind the window in frame 122. Dial 102 is acted upon bya spring (not shown) which biases dial 102 to the initial or zeroposition thereof.

Shaft 120 is arranged parallel to shaft 101 and supports a disc having apin 111 adapted to engage and to cooperate with gear 105. Shaft supportsalso a spur gear 119 meshing with a spur gear 152 on main driving shaft136. When shaft 120 and disc 110 are being turned by gears 152, 119 inthe direction which has been indicated in Fig. 2 by an arrow(clockwise), pin 111 engages the lower surface of a latch 106 pivotallymounted at 106b which is biased by a spring 107. Latch 106 has aprojection or nose 106a normally engaging gear 104. When pin 111 engageslatch 106, nose 10Go is lifted momentarily against the bias of spring107 out of engagement with gear 104. When pin 111 is pivoting latch 106it is ralso engaging gear 10S and then moves the same a distance equalto the circular pitch of that gear. Thus shaft 101 is being steppedvbackward, i.e., turned in consecutive steps whose direction is oppositeto the direction of its movement when acted upon by dial 102. When shaft101 has been returned to its initial position, or zero position, whereinthe figure zero appears in the window of frame 122, pin 111and shaft 120are not any longer in the position to move gear 104 in backwarddirection gear 104 being provided with a gap 108 between some of itsteeth limiting backward movement, or precluding continued backwardmovement thereof by parts 111 and 120. Shaft 101, gears 104, 105 andcams v134, y112 and 234 and number disc 121 operate as a storage ormemory 3 ber wheel 121corresponds to the figure 50 which ligure thenappears in the window of frame 122.

Number disc 121 and operating knob 123 form an integral part of acoupling `sleeve 129 which canbe displaced on shaft 101 in a directionlongitudinally thereof, but which is positively coupled with shaft 102for joint rotary motion with it. Spring 124 wound around shaft 101biases number disc 121 to its normal position shown in Figs. 1 and 2.Preparatory to turning, shaft 101 manually by means of knob 123, thelatter must be shifted from left to right, as seen in Figs. l and 2.Then number disc 121 abuts against pin 125, shifting the latter in adirection longitudinally thereof from the left to the right. This causesengagement of the right pointed end of pin 125 with a bent, cam-shapedportion 10519' of latch 106, as a result of which projection 106a isbeing lifted out of engagement with gear 104. Thereafter it is possibleto rotate shaft 101 by means of knob 123 as, for instance, forcorrecting an error which may have occurred when operating dial 102.

Species selector lever 132 is provided for selecting the kind ordenomination of stamps desired as, for instance, 1 cent Stamps, 3 centstamps, 5 cent stamps, 8 cent stamps, et cetera. Lever 132 is pivotallymounted on pin 132a. The upper end of lever 132 forms a handle 13219,whereas its lower end cooperatively engages a sleeve 137 slidablymounted on driving shaft 136 for the purpose of selectively shiftingsleeve 137 to either side. Lever 132 is provided with a multiperforatedtransverse arm 132e arranged close to the upper end thereof. Theperforations 13211 in arm 132C are adapted to be engaged by a pin 135aon lever 135 (Fig, 2). Lever 135 is pivoted at 135'b Iand controlled bycam 134 mounted on storage or memory shaft 101. As long as shaft l101 isin the initial or zero position thereof, pin 135a is out of engagementwith perforations '132d and, therefore, lever 132 may be `adjusted atwill by means of handle 132b, thus enabling to select the desired kindof stamps. On the other hand, if any given number has been stored bystorage or memory shaft 101, then cam `134 has pivoted lever 135, andpin 135:1 has entered one of the perforations 132d in transverse arm132,v

making it impossible for lever 132 to be pivoted about pin 132:1', i.e.locking lever 132 in position.

Driving shaft 136 supports a set of spur gears 301, 302 305, 306. Eachof these gears is adapted to drive one-and only onef-of the spur gears307, 308 311, 312 of the dispensing devices 313, 3141-. 317, 318. Drivengear 307, 30S 311, 312 are axially displaced in regard to driving gears301, 302 305, 306, the amount of displacement being different for eachcooperating pair of gears 301, 307.; 302, 308; et cetera. In theposition of the parts shown in Fig. l driving gear 306 meshes withdriven gear 312 of the dispensing device 318. Driving gear 305 isaxially displaced one step from the driven gear 311 with which it may bebrought into meshing engagement by an axial movement of shaft 136. Thespacing between cooperating pairs of gears, i.e. gears which may bebrought into meshing engagement increases progressively from right toleft (as seen in Fig. l), the axial displacement of driving gear 301from driven gear 307 being tive steps.

Assuming the species selector lever 132 to have been shifted three stepsin order to select another species, or kind, of stamps, as a resultdriving gear 303 is caused to mesh with driven gear 309 of dispenser315, while all other driving gears 301, 302 305, 306 are out of meshwith their respective driven gears 301, 302 311, 312. i

- Counting device `203 mounted on shaft 214i is always positivelyconnected to driving shaft 136 by a pair of meshing spur gears 211, 212,of which the forme-r is mounted on driving shaft `136 and the latter onshaft 214. Shaft 136 supports `a pair of coupling discs 260 arranged toboth sides of a cooperating coupling disc 261 mounted ,4 c on shaft 214.Discs 260, 261 form cooperating abutments causing shaft 214 to beshifted jointly with shaft 136 to the left or right, as the case may be,whenever the former is being shifted in a direction longitudinallythereof. Counting device 203 is made up of three stacks of discs 205,206, 207 provided on the cylindrical surfaces thereof with pins 203m inthe shape of teeth. The discs 204 in stack 205 count numbers having onedigit, the discs in stack 206 count numbers having two digits, and thediscs in stack 207 count numbers having three digits. Counting device203 has been shown in the drawing but diagrammatically, and suchcounting devices do not need to be described in detail since they arewell known in the art. The object of counting device 203 is to controlthe adding totalizer or counter 200, i.e. to transfer the movements ofshaft 136 to device 200 in such a way as to control device 200 inaccordance with the value of the stamps which have been dispensed. Whenthe counting device 203 is being shifted in an axial direction, one ofthe discs `204 of each of the stacks 205, 206, 207 is in registry withone of the threetransmission gears 202 of the adding totalizer 200 andthus in position to operate gears 202. The discs 204 operatingtransmission gears 202 correspond to the monetary value of the stamps inthe particular dispensing device 313-318 then being operated by drivingshaft 136 which, in the position of the parts shown in Fig. l, is thedispensing device 318. At each revolution of driving shaft 136,resulting in unwinding of one single stamp having a given denominationfrom a reel 333 (see Fig. 5) of stamps of that denomination in one ofthe dispensing devices 313-318, counting device 203 operates the addingtotalizer 200- So as to add on the value of that particular stamp.

Referring now to Figs. l to 5 and more particularly to Fig. 5, thedispensing devices 313-318 shown each comprises a drum 319e mounted on abush 319 adapted to receive a shaft (not shown). The width of each drum319e is equal to the width of the particular kind, or species, of stampswhich it is intended to dispense. The cylindrical surface of thedispensing, drum of each dispensing device 313-318 is provided withangularly displaced pairs of pins 320 adapted to engage the perforationsformed between immediately adjacent stamps. The distance between eachpair of angularly displaced pins 320 is equal to the length of theparticular species, or kind, of stamps to be dispensed by the particulardispensing device.

As best shown in Fig. 5, the left side of each drum 319a is providedwith a plurality of angularly displaced radialslots 322. The anglesbetween pairs of pins 320 are equal to the angles between slots 322. Pin324 mounted on lever 323 is adapted to enter slots 322. Each dispensingdevice 313-318 is provided with one lever 323 supporting alpin 324jointly forming a crank mechanism adapted to be driven by, and to movein synchronism with, the respective driven gears 307-312 of thedispensing devices. -Rotation of one of gears 307-312, and of lever 323and pin 324 associated with that particular gear causes pin 324 toengage one of the radial slots 322 and to turn the drum about an angleequal to the angle enclosedV between immediately adjacent pairs of pins320, or immediately adjacent slots 322 in one of the sides of the drum.As a result, one stamp is being unwound from storage reel 338 and movedforwardly by one of the drums of one of the dispensing devices 313-310.

Each storage reel 338 is arranged inside of a casing, or housing 335,having a removable cover, or side wall 337,

enabling to readily get access toand replenish any given storage reel338. Contiguous dispensing devices 313-313 are'separated by partitions330, 381 forming compartments each adapted to receive one storage reel338 and housing 335. As shown in Fig. 5, each of the casings, orhousings 335 is provided V-with a lateral rib 336 engaging a groove 380ein paltition 380.

lf desired, a stamp counter 339 may be built into each casing or housing335. Counter 339 is operated by means of a rocking lever 371 which, inturn, -is operated by pins 372 providedon the left side of eachdispensing drum of each dispensing device 313-318.

Electric motor 400 is provided for driving shaft 136 and counting device203. Pulley 416 is being driven by motor 400 by the intermediary ofintermediate gearing 401. Belt 415 operates pulley 402 forming anintegral part of a rst clutch, and a pulley 403, forming an ntegral partof a second clutch. Reference numeral 116 has been applied to indicatethe left portion of said first clutch, and reference numeral 221 hasbeen applied to indicate the left portion of said second clutch (Figs. 1and 2). Sleeve or bush 117 is slidably mounted on shaft 154, and theleft side of sleeve or bush 117 is provided with teeth adapted tocooperatively engage teeth on the right side of clutch member 1116. Cams118 and 150 are integral parts of sleeve or bush 117. The lower end oflever 130 pivoted at 130a engages cam 150. Lever 130 is biased by spring-130b tending to disengage the lower end of lever 130 from cam 150. Theupper end of lever 130 is adapted to be acted upon by an electromagnet131 tending to move lever 130 into the position wherein lever 130engages cam 150. Sleeve or bush 117 is acted upon l by a spring (notshown) tending to move sleeve or bush 117 toward the left (as seen inFig. 2), causing engagement of the teeth thereofwith the teeth on clutchmern ber 116. As long aslever 130 engages cam 150, sleeve or bush 117 isprecluded from being shifted to the left into engagement with clutchmember 116. Cam 118 is engaged by the lower end of lever 114 pivoted at114:1 and under the action of spring 115, tending to cause engagementunder pressure of lever 114 and cam 118. The upper arm of lever 114 isengaged by, and under the control of, a cam 112 xedly mounted on storageshaft 101. When storage shaft 101 is being turned, lever 114 is beingpivoted by cam 112, as a result of which the lower end of lever 11'4disengages from cam 118, thus releasing sleeve or bush 117 to move fromits right position to its left position.

Sleeve or bush 1'17 is provided Iwith an arm 151 projecting through arectangular aperture 1152a in spur gear 152. This arm establishes apermanent positive coupling of parts 117 and 152 in both directions ofrotation thereof. A short length of shafting 155 is positively connected.to spur gear 152 and provided with a transverse pin 153. Pin 153projects into a pair of slots 137a provided in coupling sleeve 137 onldriving shaft 136. As a result of this arrangement of parts, drivingshaft 136 is always positively connected to coupling sleeve 137 in bothdirections of rotation, irrespective into which position shaft 136 mayhave been shifted by means of the species selector lever 132, andcoupling sleeve i137, engaged, and operated, by the lower end ofselector lever 132.

The electric Acircuit of motor 400 may be closed by suitable switchmeans, i.e. by a contact 405 adapted to be operated by a key 404 pivotedat 40461. (See Figs. l to 4, particularly Fig. 4.) In case that dial 202has been operated before operating key 404, the latter needs to bedepressed but for an instant, and may be released immediatelythereafter. Projection 414 of key 404 cooperating with locking pin 410then locks key 404 in position until such time as storage shaft 101 hasreturned to its initial or zero position, and the number of stampspreviously selected by operation of selector dial 102 has beendispensed. The mechanisms provided for `achieving this result comprisesthe following parts: Pin 409 slidably mounted in sleeve 406 and underthe bias of helical spring 408 inside of sleeve 406 vprojecting with oneend thereof into an appropriate recess 109 on gear 105 mounted on'storage or memory shaft 101. TheL aforementioned mechanism furthercomprises Ia spring 411 arranged in thehollow end 413 of pin 409,biasing locking pin 410, and a transverse pin 412 projecting through alongitudinal slot in locking pin 410, precluding the latter fromdropping out of the hollow end 413 of pin 409. Recess 109 is in registrywith the tip of pin 409 when storage shaft 101 is in the initial or zeroposition thereof. This particular position of parts 409, 105 and 101 hasbeen illustrated in Fig. 4. Operation of shaft 101 by dial 102 causespin 409 to be pushed out of recess 109 to the left (as seen in Fig. 4).At the same time springs 408 and 413 are being compressed. Locking pin410 cannot move to the left as long `as the projection 414 of key 404 isarranged in its path. However, when key 404 is being depressed andprojection 414 moved out of the path of locking pin 410, the lattersnaps to the left, and then precludes projection 414 and key 404 fromreturning to the initial positions thereof. Contact 40S remains closedas long `as key 404 is locked in its depressed position. Projection 414and key 404 are unlocked only upon return of the right end of pin 409into the cooperating recess 109 in gear 105. Then key 404 returns to itsinitial position, thereby opening contact I405. Motor 400 is thende-energized, the selected number of stamps having been dispensed.

Each of the dispensing devices 313 318 is provided with a knife 327 tocut-off those stamps which have been unwound from storage reel 338. (SeeFigs. 1 and 5.) Each knife 327 is provided with a guiding framestructure 326 to move it along a straight path, and with an operatinglever 370 of which one end is pivotally connected to knife 327, one endoperated by a cam 329, and a point intermediate both ends journaled tothe guiding frame structure 326. The operating cams 329 of all knives327 are mounted on a common shaft 330. Gear 227 on shaft 330 meshes withgear 226 on auxiliary shaftl 226e upon which the number wheels 201 ofthe adding totalizer or counter 200 are loosely mounted. Shaft 226a maybe driven by meshing gear 220, the two parts 224, 221 of a clutch andpulley 403.

Part 223 of coupling 221, 223 in the shape of a shaftsupported sleeve isunder the bias of a spring (not shown) and comprises a cam portion 223a.The biasing spring of part 223 tends to shift the latter from right toleft into cooperative engagement with part 221. Lever 224 pivotallysupported at 240 is adapted to engage cam portion 223a to precludecoupling sleeve 223 from being shifted to the. left under the bias ofthe aforementioned spring. Lever 224 is acted upon by a spring 247tending to move lever 224 to the position shown in Fig. 3 wherein clutchmembers 223 and 221 are separated. 'I'he shaft 240 supporting lever 224is provided with a pawl 243 adapted to engage, and to cooperate with, acontrol arm 242 of key the point required to release clutch member 223causesl pawl 243 to drop olf nose 242a on control arm 242. This permitspivotal movement of lever 224 and re-engagement thereof withy camportion 223:1 on part 223. As a result, cam portion 223a and part 223are moved against spring action from left to right, i.e. to the positionshown in Fig. 3, upon completion of one revolution of these two parts.The upper end of control arm 242, is adapted toA operate a switch means,e.g. 'contact 229, arranged in the` electric circuit of motor 400. Anglemember 245 forming an integral part of control arm 242 engages, and iscontrolled by, a cam 244, mounted to turn jointly withl coupling sleeve223. Cam 244 causes contact 229 to remain closed during an entirerevolution of cam 244, irrespective of whether or not key 222 is beingreleased.

Key 22.2 can only be operated, i.e. depressed, when storage or memoryshaft 101 is in the zero position thereof. To this end cam 234 onstorage or memoryl shaft 101 controls pin 230 the lower end of which isar-kk ranged in the path of the movement of a projection 233y of lever224. In the initial or zero position of storage shaft 101 the upper endof pin 230 engages a recess 235 in cam 234 and, therefore, the lower endof pin 230 is situated sufliciently far from projection 233 of lever 224not to interfere with pivotal movement of lever 224 about shaft 240. lfstorage shaft 101 is not in its initial or zero position or, in otherwords, if the selected number of stamps has not yet been unwound fromits respective storage reel, then pin 230 slides on the radially outersurface of cam 234, thereby precluding lever 224 from being pivoted. 4

Assuming key 222 to be operated while storage or memory shaft 101 is inits initial or zero position: then motor 406 is being switched on as aresult of closing of contact 229. Simultaneously both coupling members221 and 223 are caused to engage each other for one full revolution ofpulley 403. Gears 220, 226 and 227 then operate shaft 330, cams 229 andcam-controlled knives 327. As a result, all the post stamps previouslyunwound from their respective storage reel 338 by the operation ofdispensing devices 313-318 are cut-olf, and allowed to drop into ahopper (not shown). Rotation of auxiliary shaft 226e causes the addingtotalizer 200 to be reset to its inital or zero position. The specicmeans for achieving this end have not been illustrated in the drawingsince such means are well known in the art and have no immediate bearingupon the present invention. Upon releasing of key 222 pawl 243 slidesalong the slanting lower surface of projection 242e of control arm 242,temporarily stretching or expanding spring 246. Eventually pawl 243enters the recess formed above projection 242e and then assumes againthe position shown in Fig. 3.

Key 236e may be inserted into the key-hole 236b of alock 236 forcontrolling a linkage 237 adapted to locky key 222 in its inoperativeposition. When key 222 is locked by parts 236 and 237, no stamps can bedispensed by the apparatus.

A push button 345 is arranged adjacent the front of each dispensing drumof the several dispensing devices 313618 (Fig. 5). As shown in Figs. 6and 7 push-button '345 is cooperatively related to a contact 351.Contact 351 controls the energizing circuit of electromagnet 131 shownin Figs. l and 2. Referring now more particularly to Figs. 6 and 7, thecontrol element 341i of contact 351 is under the control of two parts,i.e. lever 343 and the control end of a pin 359 forming a coaxialextension of push-button 345. Each pin 350 is secured by a bracket 350eto one of partitions 380 (Figs. 5, 6 and 7). Lever 343 is mounted on thesame shaft 243e as a sensing element 342 having a sharp edge 342:1 muchlike a knifes cutting edge. Sensing element 342 is provided to explorethe positions of control discs 339er forming a part of the addingtotalizer or counter 339 (see also Fig. 5). Each control dise 339e formsan integral part of one of the number wheels of the adding totalizer orcounter 339, and each control disc 339er is provided with a narrowgroove or slot (not shown) extending parallel to shaft 343e. If all thenumber wheels of the adding totalizer or counter 339 are'in theirinitial or zero positions, all` the aforementioned narrow grooves orslots are in alignment, making it possible for the sharp edge 342e toenter simultaneously into all of the aforementioned grooves or slots incontrol discs 339a. This, in turn, causes lever 343 to pivot inclockwise direction, as seen in Figs. 6 and 7. As a result, controlelement 343 is'released,i.e, not supported any longer by lever 343, thuspermittingA contact 351l to close. Closing of contact 351 causesenergization of electro-magnet 131. Therefore lever 130 is beingoperated' by electro-magnet 131 and henceforth precludes any rotarymotion of driving shaft 136.

If and when oney ofthe housings 335 is being removed from .the rest ofthe structure, this means'removal of the particular lever 343 from theContact 351 with which it cooperates. As la result, control element 340looses its 3 support, and contact 351 closes, again energizing magnet131 and precluding any rotary motion of shaft 136.

The yadding totalizer or counter 339 comprises three control discs 339a,and three number wheels, each associated with one of these control discs(Fig. 6). Each control disc 339e and each number wheel corresponds to adifferent digit. Hence, all control discs 339e and lall number wheelswill be i-n the same position when the adding totalizer or counter 339indicates either zero, or one thousand. in case that a given containeror housing 335 is being replenished with a new storage reel 333supporting i000 post stamps, sensing edge 342e drops into theedge-receiving grooves or slots in control discs 339e, causing lever 343to release control element 34). This, in turn, causes closing of contact351. Exerting pressure upon push-button 345 causes shifting of pin 35()against the bias of spring 35% to the position shown in Fig. 6 whereinits pointed end engages control element 340, thus opening contact 351.In this position pin 350 is latched-in by lever 343 engaging a recess350e in pin 350. Now the dispensing device is ready to be operated.

As soon as at least one stamp has been unwound from its respectivestorage reel 338, at least one of the three control discs 339e of therespective adding totalizer or counter 339 is being shifted out of itszero position. Hence sensing blade 342 shifts lever 343 ineounterclockwise direction, and the latter releases pin 359 to theaction of spring 35%. -Now lever 343 supports control element 340,previously held in position by the joint action of pin 35d and lever343, and thus contact 351 remains open.

In the modification illustrated in Fig. 8 the adding totalizer orcounter 339 and the mechanism associated with the same (shown in Figs. 6and 7) have been omitted, and replaced by another structure. The lattercomprises a sensing lever 345 pivotally mounted at 3451) and engaging anaperture in a frame 349 behind which a strip of post stamps 343 is beingmoved in a direction longitudinally thereof. Sensing lever 345 is biasedby spring 345e against the post stamps 34S under the frame 349. When the'last post stamp 343 has been removed, sensing lever 345 looses itssupport and is then pivoted by spring 345e in counterclockwisedirection. Lever 346 is supported by the same pin as lever 345, andmoves simultaneously in a counterclockwise direction with lever 345.Lever 346 is adapted when moved counterclocl wise to close contact 347arranged in the energizing circuit of electromagnet 131.

The clutch member 117 for driving shaft 136 is under the control of anarm 128 mounted on shaft .12841 (Fig. 2). Shaft 128g supports arm 127'under the action of spring 127e. Normally arm 12S is situated out of thepath of clutch member 117, permitting the latter to engage itscooperating clutch member 116. However, if knob 123 is being shiftedfrom left to right and turned manually in order to adjust the positionof storage or memory shaft 101, then pin 126 on number disc 121 engageslever or arm 127, causing arm 128 to be moved into the path of clutchmember 117, and thus precluding cooperative engagement of the two parts117 and 116 of the coupling for shaft 136.

The operation of the above structure has been described, in part, alongwith the description of the structure and, therefore, but little needsto be added in regard to the operation of the above described tokenticket dispenser or vending machine.

Preparatory to operation of the machine, lock 236 (Fig. 3) must beunlocked to unlock key 222. rl'hereu yafter lever 122 is operated, i.e.placed into the particular position which is correlated to the desiredkind or species of stamps. Thereupon dial 102 is operated in accordancewith the ynumber of stamps of the particular kino1 or species desired.Turning of storage or memory/shaft 101 by means of dial 102 causesselector zero position.

9i ing lever 132 to be locked in position by operation of cam 134 andcoupling member 117 to be released by operation of cam 112 and lever114. Subsequent operation of key 404 then starts motor 400. Key 404though only depressed for an instant, or momentarily, remains locked inits operative position (by virtue of the operation of the mechanismshown in Fig. 4) until storage or memory shaft 101 has returned to itsinital The number of revolutions of driving shaft 136 is equal to thenumber of stamps selected by dial 102 for any given species. At eachrevolution of driving shaft 136 storage shaft 101 is turned back onestep. When storage shaft 101 is back to its initial or zero position,lever 114 separates parts 116 and 117 of the clutch or coupling foroperating driving shaft 136.

It will be apparent that the above operations may be repeated in regardto any kind, or species, of stamps desired. The monetary value of eachkind, or species, of stamps in the process of being dispensed is beingtransmitted from driving shaft 136 to the counting device 203 andcounter or adding totalizer 200, the former being coupled by gears 211,212 with shaft 136. Counter or adding totalizer 200 indicates the totalvalue of the stamps ready to vbe dispensed.

Operation of key 222 causes the stamps ready to be dispensed to bedispensed. Lever 224 releases part 223 of clutch 223, 221 thenengagingpart 221 thereof. As a result shaft 330 is being operated simultaneouslyoperating all `the knivesj327 of all dispensing devices 313-318. At thesame time counter or adding totalizer 200 is reset to its initial orzero position.

It Will be apparent from the foregoing that the quantity selector 102 isadapted to be shifted from a predetermined initialor zero position to aplurality of ultimate positions of which each stands for a quantity ofstamps, or other token tickets. The storage or memory shaft 101 underthe control of quantity selector 102 is adapted Vto perform angularmovements proportional to a shift of quantity selector 102 from saidinitial position to one of said plurality of ultimate positions. Theapparatus further comprises a plurality of dispensing devices 313-318 ofwhich each includes a ticket storage reel 338, and one of a plurality oftransport drums. The apparatus further comprises a first plurality ofequidistantly spaced driven spur gears 307-312 of which each isassociated with one of the aforementioned plurality of dispensingdevices, or plurality of transport drums, to operate one of saidplurality of dispensing devices' or transport drums. Mounted on thedispensing devices; operating shaft or transport-drums-operating shaft136 is a second plurality of spur gears 301-306, the driving spur gears,the spacing of which increases in progressive steps from one side ofshaft 136 to the other. The manually operable species selector 132, 132bis adapted to shift driving shaft 136 in a direction 1ongitudinallythereof to a plurality of predetermined positions; Driving spur gears301-306 are spaced on shaft 136 in such a Way as to permit meshingengagement of each of driven spur gears 307-312 with but one of drivingspur gears 301-306. lPerforations 132d on lever 135 `and cam 134 form alocking mechanism for lever 132.` Disc 110k and pin 111 are resettingmeans for shaft 101 to return Vshaft 101 to its initial position. Gap108 is a means for precluding overshooting of the original position ofshaft 101v during the resettingoperation. Both lever 114 and 130 areVmeans for precluding .untimelyV coupling Vof automatic coupling orclutch 116, 117. Switch '404, 405 shown in Fig. 4 is under the controlof a locking mechanism shown in detail `in Fig. 4 which, in turn, isunder the control of storage or memory shaft 3101. Counter 200 isadapted to bel `driven by lcomputing device 203which, in turn, isadapted to be driven by storage shaft 136.` Discs 260, 261 are'means forshifting computing device 203 jointly with shaft`136 in a ydirectionlongitudinally thereof to adjust computing device 203 in accordance withthe monetary unit value of the token tickets determined by the positionof species selector 132, 132b. Cam 234 and rod 230 are integral parts ofa locking device for clutch or coupling 221, 223. Parts 323, 324 form acrank mechanism adapted to engage grooves 322 (Fig.- 5) in transportdrums 313-320 (Fig. l). Each crank 323, 324 and the grooves 322 on eachof the transport drums 4forms a stepping mechanism for moving transportdrums 313-320 forewardly in a number of successive steps, rather than bya continuous motion. The ratio at which gears 307-312 are being drivenby one of driving gears 301-306 is such as to result in a full forewardstep of each of the transport drums of dispensing devices 313-318 foreach revolution of shaft 136. The distance transport pins 320 are beingmoved at each step of one of the transport drums is equal to the lengthof the stamps transported by the respective transport drum, or equal tothe distance between contiguous pairs of stamp-engaging pins 320 on therespective transport drum. The `angle between contiguous grooves 322 inany given transport drum is equal to the angle between contiguous pairsof stamp engaging pins 320 on the same transport drum.

lIt will also be apparent from the foregoing that though the mechanismsassociated with each dispensing :levice 313-318, or transport drum,respectively, are the same, in principle, the individual mechanisms mayvary on acocunt of variations in the sizes of stamps, and on account ofvariations of the monetary value of different species of stamps.

Having disclosed a preferred embodiment of our invention it is desiredthat the same be not limited to any particular structure disclosed. Itwill be obvious to any person skilled in the art that many modificationsand changes may be made without departing from the broad spirit andscope of the invention. Therefore it is desired that the invention ybeinterpreted as broadly as possible and that it be limited only asrequired by the prior state of the art.

We claim as our invention:

l. IIn a token ticket dispenser the combination of a manually operablequantity selector `adapted to be shifted from a predetermined initialposition to a plurality of ultimate positions, a storage shaft under thecontrol of said quantity selecto-r adapted to perform angular movementsproportional to a shift of said quantity selector from said initialposition to one of said plurality of ultimate positions, a plurality ofdispensing devices, a rst plurality of gears each associated with one ofsaid plurality of dispensnig devices to operate one of said plurality ofdispensing devices, a dispensing-devicesoperating shaft, a manuallyoperable species selector adapted to shift saiddispensing-devices-operating shaft in a direction longitudinally thereofto a plurality of predetermined positions, a second plurality of gearsspaced on said dispensing-devices-operating shaft in such a way yas topermit meshing engagement of each of said lirst plurality of gears withbut one of said second plurality of gears, and means dependent on thesetting of said storage shaft for rotating saiddispensing-devices-operating shaft.

2. A token ticket dispenser as specified in claim l comprising a lockingmechanism under the control of said storage shaft controlling saidspecies selector to lock said species selector in position upon angularmovement of said storage shaftout of said initial positio thereof. l f

3. A token ticket dispenser as specified in claim 1 comprising meansdriven by said dispensing-devicesoperating shaft for resetting saidstorage shaft from one of said plurality of ultimate positions to saidinitial position, said means being adapted to move said storage shaftone predetermined step at each revolution of saiddispensing-devices-operating shaft.

i Il

' 4. A token ticket dispenser as specified in claim l comprising anelectric motor for driving said dispensingdevices-operating shaft,automatic coupling means adapted to selectively couple saiddispensing-devices-oper-ating shaft with said electric motor and touncouple said dispensing-devices-operating shaft from said electricmotor, and a sensing lever under the control of said storage shaftadapted to preclude coupling of said automatic coupling means in saidinitial position of said storage shaft to stop saiddispensing-devices-operating shaft when said storage shaft is in saidinitial position thereof.

5. A token ticket dispenser as specified in claim l comprising anelectric motor for driving said dispensingdevices-operating shaft, an`automatic coupling adapted to selectively couple saiddispensing-devices-operating shaft with said electric motor and touncouple said dispensing-devices-operating shaft from said electricmotor, a first lever under the control of said storage shaft, said firstlever being adapted to preclude coupling of said automatic coupling whensaid storage shaft is in said initial position thereof to stop saiddispensing-devicesoperating shaft when said storage shaft is in saidinitial position thereof, an electric switch responsive to an operatingcondition in said token ticket dispenser, an electro-magnet under thecontrol of said electric switch, and a second lever under the control ofsaid electromagnet to preclude coupling of said `automatic coupling onoccurrence of said operating condition.

6. A token ticket dispenser as specified in claim 1 comprising anelectric motor for driving said dispensingdevices-operating shaft, anelectric circuit for energizing said motor, a normally open manuallyoperable electric switch for controlling said electric circuit, lalocking mechanism for said electric switch, and means under the controlof said storage shaft to control said locking mechanism to maintain saidswitch closed as long as said storage shaft is turned out of saidinitial position thereof, said locking mechanism control means beingadapted to permit opening of said switch upon return of said storageshaft to said initial position thereof.

7. A token ticket dispenser as specified in claim l comprising acounter, a computing device adapted toV be driven by saiddispensing-devices-operating shaft to operate said counter, and meansfor shifting said computing device jointly with saiddispensing-devices-operating shaft in a direction longitudinally thereofto adjust said computing device in accordance with the monetary unitvalue of the token tickets determined by the position of said speciesselector.

8. A token ticket dispenser as specified in claim 1 comprising-aplurality of cutting knives each operatively associated with one of saidplurality of dispensing devices to cut-off the token tickets beingdispensed, a plurality of operating levers each for operating one ofsaid plurality of cutting knives, a plurality of cams each adapted tooperate one of said plurality of levers, a common shaft supporting saidplurality of cams, an electric motor for operating said common shaft, amanually operablecoupling adapted to selectively couple said commonshaft With said electric motor and to uncouple said common shaft fromsaid electric motor, a locking device under the control of said storageshaft precluding manual operation of said coupling'unless said storageshaft is in said initial position thereof, and automatic means limitingto one the' number of revolutions lwhich said common shaft can performat a time. V

9. A token ticket dispenser as specified in claim l comprising anelectric motor, a rst coupling means adapted to couple saiddispensing-devices-operating shaftv With said 'electric motor and touncouple said dispensing-de-` vices-operatingshaft from saidr motor, a'sensinglever under the control of said storage shaft, said sensinglever being adapted to uncouple said first automatic coupling means insaid initial position of said storage shaft to stop saiddispensing-devices-operating shaft vvhen said storage shaft is in saidinitial position thereof, a plurality of cutting knives each operativelyassociated Iwith one of said plurality of dispensing devices to cut-offthe token tickets being dispensed, a common shaft for jointly operatingsaid plurality of cutting knives, a second coupling means adapted toselectively couple said cutting knives operating shaft with saidelectric motor and to uncouple said cutting knives operating shaft fromsaid motor, manually operable means for coupling said coupling means tocause said electric motor to drive said cutting knives operating shaft,and a locking device under the control of said storage shaft precludingoperation of said manually operable means and driving of said cuttingknife by said electric motor unless said storage shaft is in saidinitial position thereof.

10. In a token ticket dispenser the combination of a manually operablequantity selector dial adapted to be turned from an initial position toa plurality of ultimate positions, a storage shaft under the control ofsaid dial adapted to perform angular movements proportional to a shiftof said dial from said initial position to one of said plurality ofultimate positions, a cam on said storage shaft, a plurality ofdispensing devices each including a rotatable transport drum adapted tomove a strip of token tickets in a direction longitudinally thereof, aiirst plurality of gears each associated with a transport drum of one ofsaid plurality of dispensing devices to operate said transport drumthereof, a dispensing devices-operating shaft, a manually operablespecies selector adapted to shift'said dispensing devices operatingshaft in a direction longitudinally thereof to a plurality of selectingpositions, a locking mechanism for said species selector under thecontrol of said cam on said storage shaft for locking said speciesselector in position upon angular movement of said storage shaft out ofsaid initial position thereof, a second plurality of gears spaced onsaid dispensing devices operating-shaft in such a Way as to permitmeshing engagement of each of said first plurality of gears with but oneof said second plurality of gears, and means depending on the setting ofsaid storage shaft for rotating said dispensing-devices-operating shaft.

l l1. A token ticket dispenser as specified in claim 10 comprising aplurality of token ticket storage reels each for supplying saidtransport drum of one of said plurality of dispensing devices with astrip of token tickets of a predetermined length, a plurality ofstepping mechanisms each operatively associated with said transport drumof one of said Vplurality of dispensing devices to turn said transportdrum is steps equal in length to the length of the token tickets of thestrip of token tickets supplied to said transport drum, each of saidplurality of stepping mechanisms being driven by one of said secondplurality of gears, and the ratio at which each of said second pluralityof gears being driven by one of said first plurality of gears being suchas to result in one foreward step of said transport drum of each of saidplurality of dispensing devices foreach full revolution of saiddispensing devices operating shaft.

12. A token ticket dispenser as specified in claim l0 comprising aplurality of transport drums each having angularly displaced' pairs oftransport pins on the cylindrical surface thereof and each havingangularly displaced grooves Von. one of the lateral surfaces thereof,the angles of displacement of said grooves being equal to the angles ofdisplacement of said pairs of pins, a plurality of crank mechanisms eachcomprising a pin adapted to engage sequentially said angularly displacedgrooves on one of the lateral surfaces of one ofsaid plurality oftransport drums tocause a stepping motion of said one of said pluralityof transport drums, and each of said plurality of crank mechanisms beingadapted to be rotated by one of said second plurality of gears.

13,'A token ticket dispenser as specified in. claim 10 comprisinganelectric motor for-,driving said dispensing devices-operating shaft,Vautomatic coupling means operating shaft with said electric motor and touncouple said dispensing devices-operating shaft from said electricmotor, said automatic coupling means being biased to the couplingposition thereof, means under the control of said storage shaftprecluding said coupling means from coupling said electric motor andsaid dispensing devices-operating shaft when said storage shaft is insaid initial position thereof, and electromagnetic means responsive tothe absence of token tickets on said transport drum of any of saidplurality of dispensing devices for precluding said coupling means fromcoupling said electric motor and said transport-drums-operating shaftwhen all the token tickets on said transport drum of any of saidplurality of dispensing ydevices are being dispensed.

14. A token ticket dispenser as specified in claim comprising aplurality of counters each operatively re- K lated to said transportdrum of one of said plurality of dispensing devices to count the valueof the token tickets dispensed by each of said transport drum, aplurality of electric switches each under the control of one of saidplurality of counters, electro-magnetic means under the control ofsaid'plurality ofswitches, and a locking mechanism under the control ofsaid electromagnetic means precluding continued operation of saiddispensing devices-operating shaft when any of said plurality ofcounters reaches a predetermined operating position thereof. s

15. A token ticket dispenser as specified in claim 10 comprising aplurality of pivotally mounted sensing levers each operatively relatedto said transport drum of one of said plurality of dispensing devicesand each adapted to slide loosely on a strip oftoken tickets, aplurality of electric switches each under the control of one of saidplurality of sensing levers, electromagnetic means under the control ofsaid plurality of switches, and a locking mechanism precluding continuedoperation of said dispensing-devices-operating shaft in response topivotal movement of one of said plurality of sensing levers.

16. A token ticket dispenser as speciiied in claim 1G comprising aplurality of counters each operatively related to said transport drum ofone of said plurality of dispensing devices to individually count themonetary value of the token tickets dispensed by said transport drum ofeach of said plurality of dispensing devices, a plurality of electricswitches each biased to the closed position thereof and each under thecontrol of one of said plurality of counters and allowed to move to saidclosed position when said one of said plurality of counters is in thezero position, a plurality of manual operators each for one of saidplurality of switches to manually move each of said plurality ofswitches to the open position thereof, and a plurality o-f locking meanseach operatively related to one of said plurality of switches for`locking said one of said plurality of switches in said open positionupon manual opening thereof by one of said plurality of manual operatorsVuntil one of said plurality of counters controlling said one of saidplurality ef switches is moved out of the zero position thereof,electro-magnetic means under the control of said plurality of switches,and a locking mechanism under the control of said electromagnetic meansprecluding continued operation of said dispensing devices-operatingshaft when any of said plurality of switches is in the closed positionthereof.

17. In'a token ticket dispenser the combination of a substantiallycylinder-segment-s'haped quantity selector dial adapted to be turnedfrom an initial position to a plurality of ultimate positions, a gearmechanism adapted to be operated by said dial, a storage shaft adaptedto be turned by said gear mechanism to 'perform angular movementsproportional to each shift of said dial from said initial position tosaid plurality of ultimate positions,

a number disc mounted on said storage shaft, ak plurality of dispensingdevices each including a rotatable transport drum eachvadapted to move astrip of token tickets in a direction longitudinally thereof, a firstplurality of gears each operatively related to said transport drum ofone of said plurality of dispensing devices to eifect a stepped forewardmovement thereof, a motor driven dispensing devices-operating shaft, amanually operable species selecltor adapted to shift said dispensingdevices-operating shaft in a direction longitudinally thereof to aplurality of selecting positions, lock-out means for said speciesselector under the control of said storage shaft precluding operation ofsaid species selector when said storage shaft is out of said initialposition thereof, a stepping mechanism operated by said dispensingdevices-operating shaft operating said gear mechanism for resetting saidstorage shaft from one of said ultimate positions to said initialposition, means precluding said stepping mechanism from resetting saidstorage shaft beyond said initial position, a second plurality of gearsspaced on said dispensing devices-operating shaft in such a way as topermit meshing engagement of each of said first plurality of gears withbut one said second plurality of gears and means dependent on thesetting of said storage shaft for rotating saiddispensing-devices-operating shaft.

18. A token ticket dispenser as specified in claim 17 comprisingmanually operable means on said number disc permitting shifting of saidnumber disc in a direction longitudinally of said storage shaft, andmeans responsive to a shift of said number disc in a directionlongitudinally of said storage shaft to render said gear mechanismineffective to permit re-adjustment of said storage shaft by saidmanually operable means on said number disc.

19. In a token ticket dispenser the combination of a manually operablequantity selector adapted to be turned from an initial position to aplurality of ultimate positions, a gear coupling mechanism adapted to beoperated by said quantity selector, a storage shaft adapted to be turnedby. said gear coupling mechanism to perform angular movementsproportional to each shift of said dial from said initial position tosaid plurality of ultimate positions, a number disc mounted on saidstorage shaft, a manual operator forming an integral part of said numberdisc, manually operable means for uncoupling said gear coupling topermit adjustment by said manual operator of the angular position ofsaid storage shaft, a plurality of dispensing devices including aplurality of pivotally mounted transport drums adapted to be engaged bystrips of token tickets and to move said strips in the direction ofrotation of said transport drums at the point of engagement of saidstrips, a plurality of gear mechanisms each operatively related to oneof said plurality of transport drums to effect a stepped forwardmovement thereof, an electric motor, a dispensing devices-operatingshaft adapted to be driven by said motor, a manually operable speciesselector adapted to shift said dispensing devices-operating shaft in adirection longitudinally thereof to a plurality of selecting positions,lock-out means for said species selector under the control of saidstorage shaft precluding operation of said species selector When saidstorage shaft is out of said initial position thereof, a steppingmechanism operated by said dispensing devices-operating shaft operatingsaid gear coupling mechanism for resetting said storage shaft from oneof said ultimate positions to said initial position, means precludingsaid stepping mechanism from resetting said storage shaft beyond saidinitial position, and a plurality of gears spaced on said dispensingdevices-operating shaft in such a way as to permit meshing enga-gementof each of said plurality of gear mechanisms with but one of saidplurality of gears.

20. In a token ticket dispenser the combination of a manually operablequantity selector adapted to be shifted from a predetermined initialposition to a'plurality of ultimate positions, a storage shaft under thecontrol of said quantity selector adapted to perform angular movementsproportional to a shift of said quantity selector from said initialposition to one of said plurality of ultimate positions, a plurality ofdispensing devices each including a rotatable transport drum adapted tobe engaged by one of said plurality of strips of token tickets to movesaid strip of token tickets in steps of predetermined length in thedirection of rotation ofsaid transport drum at the point of engagementthereof by one of said plurality of strips, a first plurality ofequidistantly spaced coaxially 4arranged gears each operatively relatedto said transport drum of one of said plurality of dispensing devices, adispensing-devices-operating shaft for said plurality of gears arrangedparallel to the common axis thereof, a plurality of spaced gears onsaid' dispensingdevices-operating shaft having a spacing ofprogressively increasing length each adapted to mesh with but one of l@said iirst plurality of gears, means for shifting saiddispensing-devices-operating shaft in a direction longitudinally thereofto change meshing pairs of said rst plurality of gears and of saidsecond plurality of gears, and means dependingon the setting of saidstorage shaft for rotating said dispensing-devices-operating shaft.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,273,067 Julius July 16, 1918 2,258,912 Steen et a1 Oct. 14, 19412,264,647 Stearns -...Dec. 2, 1941 2,488,143 Ronan et al Nov. 15, 19492,740,581 Komusin Apr. 3, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 665,608 Great BritainJan. 30, 1952

